The DoD Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (DoD-GEIS) is designed to strengthen the prevention of, surveillance of and response to infectious diseases that: (1) Are a threat to military personnel and families (2) Reduce medical readiness or (3) Present a risk to U.S. national security. The DOD-GEIS is to: (1) Increase DoD's emphasis on prevention of infectious diseases (2) Strengthen and coordinate its surveillance and response efforts, and (3) Create a centralized coordination and communication hub to help organize DoD resources and link with U.S. and international efforts. The DoD-GEIS was established in response to Presidential Decision Directive NSTC-7, June 1996. The President stated that the mission of the DoD will be expanded to include support of global surveillance, training, research, and response to emerging infectious disease threats. He called on DoD to strengthen its global disease reduction efforts through: centralized coordination; improved preventive health programs and epidemiological capabilities; and enhanced involvement with military treatment facilities and United States and overseas laboratories. Organization and Management: DOD-GEIS has been established by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) in coordination with the Military Departments and is overseen by a flag level Board of Directors made up of representatives of Health Affairs, the Military Services, the Joint Staff, the CINCs, and the Director of Defense Research and Engineering. The organization of DOD-GEIS follows the model of the Armed Force Institute of Pathology. The Executive Agent function is carried out by the Department of the Army. DOD-GEIS is headed by a Director who directs the Tri-Service staff of the central hub which a) helps coordinate prevention, surveillance and response efforts of DoD internally and externally, b) encourages and assists education, training and research efforts in DoD, and c) facilitates communication and information flow across DoD. DoD-GEIS Partners: The DoD-GEIS central hub leverages the surveillance and response assets of a network of DoD service hubs and overseas medical research units. In addition to these facilities, the DoD-GEIS consortium in the US includes the US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland; and the Naval Environmental Health Center, Norfolk, Virginia. DoD-GEIS has established strong working relationships with the US CDC and international health agencies. (DoD, Welcome to the DoDGEIS Central Hub)